Anomalies found in army accounts

A parliamentary committee yesterday suggested that Bangladesh Army should deposit Tk 2.26 crore, kept in its private fund, with the state exchequer in 15 days.
The parliamentary standing committee on Public Accounts also told the army to submit a report with satisfactory explanations from the people involved.
The irregularity was found while scrutinising the army's accounts for fiscal year 2003-04, says an audit report of the office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).
The Daily Star obtained a copy of the report yesterday.
About Tk 2.26 crore was collected in rent and electricity bills from different establishments in cantonments, according to the report discussed at a meeting of the committee at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.
The CAG office suggested depositing the money with the government exchequer. In response, the defence ministry said actions could be taken as per the audit objection, says the report.
The committee made the suggestions after a discussion, said a press release issued by the parliament secretariat.
The parliamentary body recommended that the authorities concerned should contest a case to realise Tk 57.49 lakh from contractors for failing to complete "risk purchase."
The contractors filed a writ petition in 2006 against a move by the Directorate General of Defence Purchase to realise the money from them.
Scrutinising the accounts for FY 2003-04, the CAG office raised an objection to the lease of lands of the Army Welfare Trust at a very low price, causing a loss of Tk 22.17 crore.
The committee proposed that the authorities concerned examine whether the price mentioned in the lease documents is consistent with the current market price and asked them to submit a statement within a month.
It discussed another audit objection on tax collection from plot owners of Samorik Abason Prokolpo at a lower rate, causing a loss of Tk 65.82 lakh. The committee told the authorities concerned to recover the money and turn in a report in three months.